REFLECTIONS 3
BENEDICTO “BENCAB” CABRERA
Self-Portrait
pastel on paper
After more than three decades, it's not funny how much things have remained the same. This work from 1987, a period so full of hope with the toppling of a dictator, had me thinking of the role I and my art play in shaping, documenting, or critiquing society. As we now grapple with another tyrant, I could not help but revisit these thoughts—why do I create? who am I creating for?
john marin
What’s On The Table
oil on canvas
My art speaks about how the artist offers a part of his idea to everyone. Whether they like it or not, they must accept it as a gift.
jett osian
Keeps Us Hopeful
oil on canvas
My art is an emblem of hope which is an achievement.
yani unsana
Sanity
oil on canvas
As an artist, we reflect on issues whether it is personal or social, our works transcend messages to the audience that keeps them thinking. We offer them comfort when they are disturbed.
chrics culangan
2020
oil on canvas
Ang aking piyesa ay tungkol sa pag salamin ng bawa't araw sa gitna ng kalamidad at pandemic ngayong taon 2020. Mas malinaw na pag tingin sa susunod na kabanata ng buhay ang aking nakikita.
Keb cerda
Coma
acrylic on canvas
Art can be the light in these dark and trying times. It can pull us out of this 2020 coma.
Jef Carnay
Le Diable
acrylic, pen, colored pencil on tea stained wood.
the devil is the dweller on the threshold, a feat we need to transcend: the things we need to let go, obsessions to overcome from materialism to personal comforts.
rogermond
Over the Garden Wall
oil on canvas
Demolish the barriers. Open the possibilities.
daniel aligaen
Uncertainty
acrylic and ink on textile
With the entire world thrown into chaos and death lurking around the corner amid the COVID-19 pandemic, people retreat into the safety of their homes and do their best to adjust to what is now called the “new normal”.
In this self-portrait, exact facial features are not solely depicted but the reflection of how ALL people feel amidst this crisis. We feel fearful for our health and safety; suspicious of others who walk around us, and become judgmental of others as if they may carry the sickness. Everyone is affected and no one is exempted. Even the Devil would be afraid and humbled in the midst of this plague. An artist’s role is that of a storyteller who provides all sorts of imagery to open minds to ideas. Art exists not only to move and inspire, but to also anger, disturb, and agitate viewers. Now, more than ever, art should be used as a tool to express truths about this situation -- no matter how ugly they may be.
xjin pagadora
Tinatagong Katotohanan
oil on canvas
Many may try to blind us and tie our hands back, but art will never cease to pry us free towards the light of our realities.
JONATHAN MADEJA
Face. Out.
acrylic on canvas
Larawan ng isang ordinaryong nagmamaniho na ang tanging hangad lamang sa buhay ay may pangarawaraw na kita para sa pamilya na kung minsay hindi sumasapat sa nagtataasang bayarin, ang buhay nila ay parang trapik, maingay, magulo, mabagal subalit ihahatid kaparin nito sayong paruruonang pangarap, sa kabilang banda ay nagbabadya ang mga naglalakihang lubak sa kalsada na kanilang tinatahak, silang mga makapangyarihan sating lipunan na ang tanging hangad lang ay ang pamasahi na ating ibabayad, wala silang pakiaalam kahit umabot tayo sa huling byahi ang mahalaga lang sakanila ay kung pano malamnan ang kanilang mga bulsa.
philipp ines
Ako Si Tomas
oil on canvas
Sumasalamin sa kalagayan ng manggagawa ay unti-unting pinadadapa, pinapaslang at ninanakaw ang karapatang mabuhay ng disente.
julius samson
My World
oil on canvas
My work is a portrait of an individual who builds his own world according to his desires, and needs.
A green space, a fresh wind, a job that sustains, and a love life is enough. It is a happy life, away from the turmoils and negative surrounding--- just have to use your wits and resources to make that happen.
tamer karam
You Contradict Yourself
oil on canvas with artist-made frame
As beings equipped with consciousness, it is rooted deep within our core and in our values, our essence to be aware, empathetic and compassionate to toher. When we see abuse & discrimination, should it not be our role, priority and moral duty to face and resist these predicaments with support and service? How can one turn a blind eye and stay away when a fellow man is being abused and murdered? Why is it that injustices are being served in majority towards the marginalized? How can an individual justify the death of more than 30,000 FIlipino during the height extrajudicial killings, is it justifiable because of their illegal habits? With all the injustices and oppression we are enduring, these circumstances should be faced with a united force and resistance from all social classes, but it isn't united. We are more divided now than before, from beliefs to political views. Resentment and hate rules the discourse.
kim hamilton sulit
Self-Portrait (After Fear)
oil on shaped canvas
The work is a documentation that reflects the current condition of the artist towards what is happening and he believes that one of the roles of art/artist is to imitate the reality of his surroundings.
brave singh
Sane
oil on canvas
Individuality makes us unique and there are numerous things we can do and consider to keep our sanity. The clear patches depicts the emptiness in me and my hunger for creativity and art will fill it up to keep me whole. I believe that to consistently bring out different creative art works every time brings a level up form of contentment and fulfillment.
jerson samson
Self-Portrait as an Invisible Person
mixed media
Made from old my old towel, an image of a person cut out in d middle representing myself as an invisible person, the artwork adopts to the image of the environment to were ever you want to hang it...this somehow represents me n my ability to easily adopt to any environment and my acceptance to any change in my world. I intensionally did not make a usual or ordinary portrait for this show..my self portrait is more on the conceptual side rather than the straight representation of ordinary portraits.
Kevin roque
The Builders
graphite on paper
This is our last plate in school before the suspension of class, and captured the state of my growth and development as an artist at that point in time. I combined my drawing techniques to the iconography of René Magritte using magazine cutouts as reference. I was also inspired by Victorio Edades' Builders when he was discussed in one of my classes.
mike adrao
Unbound
charcoal on paper
Ang art ay mapagpalaya. Napapalaya ako ng art at sa pagawa nito.
lui gonzales
I Like What Caterpillars Make
oil paint, pen, and ink on layered and torn tracing papers
I like to think that our constant backpain is a sign that we're growing wings. This work is a tribute to efforts spent, finishing a piece and how nature highly affects our way of thinking.
I'm particulary fascinated with insect bitemarks on leaves, and I have been mimicking this in the way I tear the layers of my recent works.
don bryan bunag
Another Cloudy Day
acrylic, thread, canvas, tweed fabric on cut-out panels
Artists function as a mirror, a tool for reflecting the times. Nevertheless, the art artist projects must be a letter addressed primarily for the future viewer — to ignite an idea, to fuel action.
emman acasio
Relapse
acrylic on canvas
It was in 2012, my fourth year of working in Singapore when I started having anxiety. I felt and knew that my blood pressure was high and that created fear of dying. It took a while to recover from anxiety. I went through several episodes of panic attacks but I’m grateful that I was able to overcome it and now I am able to manage my anxiety very well.
When the Covid-19 pandemic took over the year 2020, it brought fear to the world and I found myself back to the fear of dying again, or fear that my anxiety might relapse. So this painting is a reminder for me to stay calm, to become steady, and most importantly, to breathe because this too shall pass.
ben john albino
Sustentalo
acrylic on canvas
Inexplore ko sa sustentalo yung mga challenges na kinakaharap ng mga magulang na lalong napabigat sa panahion ng pandemya. Sa araw araw na pagbuno nila sa kabila ng mga pagsubok kahit sobrang dehado sa buhay.
Gusto kong gamitin ito ng mga viewer para magreflect sa kung saang lifestyle sila nakatayo kumpara sa mga pamilyang napakalimitado ng resources. Napakarami nating matututunan sa mga gaya nila.
ARVI FETALVERO
SEE-THROUGH-ME
graphite on canvas
For me, a self-portrait is not the image I see in the mirror but the image I see when I look inside myself - my core, my will, my thoughts, my strengths and my faults, my passion and my dreams.
This is my self-portrait.
See through me.
See, through me.
See-through ME.
RENZ BALUYOT
Still Fighting
oil on canvas
The past months have been daunting to say the least. The repercussions of the pandemic, including livelihoods lost and untimely deaths, have put many of us in a bad place. We are faced with so many questions as we face our every day — When will this end and how will we start again? How are we going to help our loved ones? Every day is plagued with resounding feelings of fear as we struggle all the way through.
Art is powerful depending on who wields its power. Some artists fight to express and some express to fight. As I reflect on the role of art and mine as an artist, I cannot help but think of a cut tree: struggling, trying, doing its best to survive and live. I think of hope amid this chaos: that regardless of how these circumstances are forcing us to give up and all the odds seem to be against us, in the end we'll keep on fighting.
PJ CABANALAN
Alaala
oil on canvas
The artwork focuses on a binangon (bolo knife) which is an indispensable tool in the lives of Filipino farmers. It is a great help for their work, and is used for "panagbas" and "pangahoy", activities that underpin their livelihood.
It is also a reminder of the artist’s past life as a farmer wielding his bolo. The memories and experiences of those times shaped who he is today, and continues to inform his life, experiences and art.